Can cutter and opener



Dec. 14,1926. 7 1,610,727

G. G. AVERY CAN CUTTER AND OPENER Filed Feb. 11, 1926 Wye/7 I n'ventor' Attorney li en CAN CUTTER Application filed February My present invention pertains to means for cutting or opening cans; and it contemplates the provision of a can cutter or opener adapted to be applied to and used upon cans of different diameters, and one that is susceptible of easy operation, and is so equipped thatthe liability of marring the can incident to the cutting thereof is reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and practical advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims: when the same are read in connection withthe drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of the cutter constitutingth'e best practical embodiment of my invention of which I am cognizant.

Figure 2 is side elevation'of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section showing the means for holding the cutter to the end rim of a can.

Figure 1 is a detail top plan of the same.

Figure 5 isa cross-section taken in the plane indicated by the line 5'5 of Figurel.

Similar numerals .ofreference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

comprises a sweep 1, formed of approriate metal, the said sweep is provided at 2 with a shoulder, and its forward portion 3 is re duced in thickness and is arranged adjacent to a pointed portion 1, disposed at the underside of the sweep 1 and designed to abut against the side of the forward section 5 of the cutter handle. 'lhe sweep 1 and the handle section 5 are pivotally connected together through the medium of a 'pintle 6 and the said pintle 6 which is headed at one end and is provided with an abutment 7 is merged into an angularly disposed point '8, the said point 8 being adapted to be forced the pintle will serve as a center for the sweeping movement of the element designated as the sweep 1. i a

Slidable on the forward reduced portion of the sweep 1 is a cutter carrier 9 having a blade 10 an extended shoe 11, and a hook 12-, these features 10, 11 and 12 being arranged relatively to each other and the car- 5 rier 9 as shown, so that the hook 12 will enshoe 11 and the blade 10 will move at the Among other elements my novel cutter into acan top so that the lower portion of gage the edge rim'of'a can, and so that the GEORGE G-BEEH AVERY AND OPENER.

11, 1926- Serial No. 57,328.

inner side of the edge rim; It will alsorbe understood in this connection that the said A s are so proportioned that the sweep 1 may be moved downwardly to readily force the point of-the blade 10 into the can top.

lvllanifestly the slidable capacity of the carrier 9 on the sweep 1, will enable the shoe 11 and thehook 12 to accommodate themselves to and freely move on the edge atthe end of the can and hence the cut made in the can top through the medium of the blade 10 will be a clean out. i

The forward section 5 of the handle is formed of appropriate metal and is provided adjacent to its rear end with an upstanding stud 13. In addition to said forward section 5, the handle of the cutter comprises a hand grasp 1d of wood or other appropriate material and a metallic section 15 suitably fixed to the hand grasp 1d and extending forwardly therefrom. The forward end of the section 15 is preferably shapedas best shown in Figures 3 and d so as to conform to the exterior curvature of a can; and it will s also be noticed that the section 15 is provided' with an upper wall 16 spaced ab'ove the major portion of the section 15 and longitudinally slotted as designated by 17 for the reception and play of thestud 13. Manifest- 3" ly the construction just described permits of a the handle of the cutter being readily increased or diminished in length according to the diameter of the can that is to be out.

As will be understood from Figures 2 and 3, the forward end of the section 15 recessed as designated by '18 to avoid ma'rring of the edgeat the end of the can, and pivotally connected to the said section 15 is the clamp lever of the cutter. The pintle of the lever 19 is designated by :20, and in order to, permit slight play of the lever19 with respect to the section 15, the said pintle 20 is disposed in slots 21 formed in the cheek piecesQQ of the lever 19. The said cheek pieces 22 form part of a hook 23, and the bill. of said hook which is opposed to the recess 18, is preferably curved reversely to the recess18 so to enable the forward end of the section 15 and the bill of the hook to securely grasp the end rim portion of can with a view tol maintaining the cutter in proper position during the manipulation of thesweep 1. The rear: arm of the lever 19 is preferably curved as illustrated so as to permit of convenient manipulation of said lever; i i

In the practical operation of my improvement, it will be understood that the carrier 9 is adjustable on the sweep 1 and the section 5 of the handle is adjustable with respect to the section 15 and the hand grasp 14:. By virtue of this the cutter manifestly may be expeditiously and easily fitted to cans of different diameters within certain limits, and when the point 8 is driven into the can top, the rim portion of the can is engaged and held between the forward end of the section 15 and the bill of the hook 23, and the carrier 9 is properly positioned in engagement with the can. The movement of the sweep 1 will be attended by quick and easy cutting of the top of the can away from the remainder thereof, the cut being a circular and clean one and being arranged adjacent to the side wall of the can as is always desirable. The knife blade 10 being pointed, the blade may obviously be easily inserted in the can top, and when the sweep 1 is manipuiated the knife blade 10 will be brought back to a point close to the starting point so as to permit of ready lifting of the can top through the medium of the point 8 or otherwise. The capacity of the carrier 9 to slide on the sweep 1 avoids binding and also assures the carrier 9 provided with the shoe 11 and hook 12, moving freely on the rim portion of the can with the result that marring of said rim portion will be averted and the production of a clean cut in the top of the can will be assured.

Notwithstanding the practical advantages ascribed to my novel cutter, it will be noted that the cutter is simple and inexpensive in construction and as a whole is well adapted to withstand the usage to which devices of corresponding character are ordinarily subjected.

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention in order to impart a fulhclear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the precise construction illustrated and described my invention being defined by my appended claims within the scope of which changes in structure and in arrangement maybe made without departure from my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s I r 1.111 a can cutter, a sweep having a shoulder at an intermediate point in its length and a forward reduced portion and also having an abutment at the underside of said reduced portion. a forward handle section, a pintle pivotally connecting said sweep and handle section and terminating in an angularly disposed point portion, a

carrier slidable on the portion of the sweep in front of the shoulder thereof and equipped with a knife blade, a shoe and a hook, means connected with the forward handle section whereby said section may be secured to the rim portion of a can at the end thereof.

2. In a can cutter, a sweep having a shoulder at an intermediate point in its length and a forward reduced portion and also having an abutment at the underside of said reduced portion, a forward handle section, a pintle pivotally connecting said sweepand handle section and terminating in an angularly disposed point portion, a carrier slidable on the portion of the sweep in front of the shoulder thereof and equipped with a knife blade, a shoe and a hook, and means connected with the forward handle section whereby said section may be secured to the rim portion of a can at the end thereof; the said means including a hand grasp, a slotted portion fixed to said hand grasp and in which the forward section of the handle is sheathed and slidable, and a lever pivotally connected to the said slotted portion and having a bill in cooperation with the forward end thereof in the securing of the handle on the rim portion of a can.

3. In a can cutter, the combination of a sweep, and a carrier slidable on the sweep and equipped with a knife blade and with a shoe and a hook, said shoe and hook adapted to rest and move at opposite sides of the rim at the end of a can; t

4. A can cutter comprising a sweep,.means for cutting the top of a can carried by said sweep. a: handle pivotally connected to the sweep and provided with means for-penetrating the top of the can and also provided with a forward end arranged to engage the outer side of a can portion, and a lever pivotally connected with the handle and having at its forward end a hook arranged to reach over'the can portion, and the bill of which is. to cooperate with said forward end of the handle in securing the cutter on a can. 7 r

5. A can cutter comprising a sweep. means for cutting the top of a can carried bysaid sweep, a handle pivotally connected to the sweep and provided with means for penetrating the top of a can, said-handle being adjustable as to length. and a lever pivotallv connected with the handle and hav ing at its forward end a hook, the bill of which is adapted to cooperate with an opposed portion of the handle in securing the cutter on a can; the forward end of the said handle portion being shaped in conformity withthe exterior curvature of a can and being recessed, and the bill of the hook on the lever having its inner side curved reversely to said recess.

6. In a can cutter, a handle having a forward portion or section equipped with a stud at a point adjacent to its rear end, a cutter carrying sweep pivotelly connected to 55 said section, a handle portion in which said forward section is sheathed, said handle portion having a longitudinal slot reeeiving said stud of the forward section, and a clamping lever pivoted to the handle portion and bifurcated to straddle said forward section and having its forward end portion in the general form of a hook.

"in testimony whereof l afiix my signature.

GEORGE GREEN AVERY 

